Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 2:19 p.m.

When it's time to stock his bar for Biketoberfest — which starts Thursday and runs through Sunday — Iron Horse Saloon general manager Steve Fritze knows there is no such thing as having too much beer.

Facts

Biketoberfest Begins

The 20th annual Biketoberfest kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday, with about 100,000 bikers heading to Volusia and Flagler counties for the four-day festival that includes parties and live music at biker-friendly bars and venues, motorcycle expos, demo rides and more. FORECAST: Just about perfect. Biketoberfest will open Thursday with sunny skies, a high of 87 and a low of 67 at night. Except for a few afternoon clouds, skies will stay mostly sunny with a 10 percent chance of rain. The weekend looks sunny, too, with highs in the mid-to-lower 80s and lows in the upper 60s. MUSIC AND MORE: For a list of concerts and other events, plus photo galleries, stories and more, go to news-journalonline.com or, in print, check Accent Thursday and GO386 Friday for Biketoberfest entertainment coverage. SEND US YOUR PHOTOS: Get your cameras running, head out on the highway and send us your photos of Biketoberfest for our readers' photo gallery. Click on the link "Submit your photos here" in our online Biketoberfest stories at news-journalonline.com.

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By last call on Sunday, Fritze said, bikers will have consumed 900 cases and 40 kegs' worth of beer at the Ormond Beach venue in the thick of U.S. 1. Fritze will give away a good portion of those suds each day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for customers who have purchased a special $5 mug.

"I probably don't make a lot of money during that hour but it brings people in here," he said. "When the hour is over a lot of them will stay and drink more."

Fritze has 45 coolers on his property to keep beverages ice-cold. The coolers are only used a few times a year but for Fritze, it's worth it.

For many local alcohol distributors and bar owners, Biketoberfest provides an economic boost in what would otherwise be a slow season.

Chris Bowler, vice president of sales at Daytona Beverages, said his company sees a 10 percent increase in sales during the weekend of Biketoberfest. Daytona Beverages distributes alcohol to 800 bars and restaurants in Volusia and Flagler counties, but Bowler wouldn't reveal the total number of cases and kegs his company delivers during the event. Trade secret, he said.

"It's a nice event to have during a slow period," he said. "It does a lot to generate income and cash flow in our service sector that would otherwise be hurting during this time."

In the past several years, bike events have spread beyond Daytona Beach's Main Street to more rural areas in Volusia County. Bowler said as the distance grows between bike events so does the amount of cold ones bikers consume.

"When we have done the math, consumption per person tends to be low," he said. "It comes out to less than two beers per person each day. It's when they come to Main Street at night; that's when alcohol consumption goes up. Main Street is a good location because of access to hotels and the ability for them to walk back and forth."

Louis Cayll, general manager of Ormond Beach-based distributor S.R. Perrott, said Biketoberfest is an important week for his company. S.R. Perrott also partners with national breweries during Biketoberfest.

"This is our biggest week in the second half of the year," Cayll said. "We will sell more beers this week than we will the week of New Year's Eve."

On Tuesday morning, distribution trucks filled Main Street as employees loaded hundreds of cases of beer into coolers at establishments such as Boot Hill Saloon, Main Street Station and Froggy's Saloon.

Like many of the venues along Main Street, Boot Hill brings in temporary cooling systems during Biketoberfest.

"They come and fill up the truck with beer at the start of every day," he said. "I've been doing this for a long time and have learned along the way how much beer to order. We used to go through 200 cases a day 10 to 15 years ago. But with the event being more spread out, we go through about 100."

When it comes to the biggest-selling brands during bike events, distributors and bar owners say Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Budweiser are the stars of the show.

But beer and bikes don't always mix. Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes warned that drinking over the legal limit of .08 can lead to fatal accidents and DUI arrests. FHP, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and the Daytona Beach Police Department will have an increased presence on the roads and be on the lookout for impaired motorists.

Last year, Volusia sheriff's deputies made 14 DUI arrests during Biketoberfest. Daytona Beach Police spokesman Sgt. Jimmie Flynt was unable to provide the number of DUI arrests his department made last year.

"Obviously in this event alcohol is a big factor," Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught wrote in an email. "These are the reasons we are vigilant in DUI enforcement."

Jensen Beach resident Frank Liotta was one of about a dozen patrons getting an early start on festivities earlier this week. As he sipped a Budweiser at Froggy's Saloon, Liotta estimated he spends about $80 on alcohol each day during Biketoberfest.

"I try to stay on Main Street when I drink so that I am in one place and I don't have to ride," he said.

- DeLand — The DeLand Bike Rally is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown DeLand and includes beer gardens, live music and merchant specials on E. Indiana Ave.

- Flagler County — Take a trip north to White Eagle Lounge in Korona along U.S. 1 for live music, a bikini contest on Saturday and drink specials all weekend. Check out Snack Jack's and Finn's in Flagler Beach.

- New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater — Sopotnick's Cabbage Patch, No Name Saloon and New Smyrna Harley-Davidson have a full schedule of events and entertainment.

- U.S. 1 Ormond Beach – The Iron Horse Saloon and other venues north of Ormond on U.S. 1 bring rock n' roll, lots of food, special events and plenty of stuff to buy.

- Daytona International Speedway — Marketplace and Demo Rides run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Motorcycle practice and races will also take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily starting Friday.

<p>When it's time to stock his bar for Biketoberfest &mdash; which starts Thursday and runs through Sunday &mdash; Iron Horse Saloon general manager Steve Fritze knows there is no such thing as having too much beer. </p><p>By last call on Sunday, Fritze said, bikers will have consumed 900 cases and 40 kegs' worth of beer at the Ormond Beach venue in the thick of U.S. 1. Fritze will give away a good portion of those suds each day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for customers who have purchased a special $5 mug. </p><p>"I probably don't make a lot of money during that hour but it brings people in here," he said. "When the hour is over a lot of them will stay and drink more." </p><p>Fritze has 45 coolers on his property to keep beverages ice-cold. The coolers are only used a few times a year but for Fritze, it's worth it. </p><p>For many local alcohol distributors and bar owners, Biketoberfest provides an economic boost in what would otherwise be a slow season. </p><p>Chris Bowler, vice president of sales at Daytona Beverages, said his company sees a 10 percent increase in sales during the weekend of Biketoberfest. Daytona Beverages distributes alcohol to 800 bars and restaurants in Volusia and Flagler counties, but Bowler wouldn't reveal the total number of cases and kegs his company delivers during the event. Trade secret, he said.</p><p>"It's a nice event to have during a slow period," he said. "It does a lot to generate income and cash flow in our service sector that would otherwise be hurting during this time." </p><p>In the past several years, bike events have spread beyond Daytona Beach's Main Street to more rural areas in Volusia County. Bowler said as the distance grows between bike events so does the amount of cold ones bikers consume. </p><p>"When we have done the math, consumption per person tends to be low," he said. "It comes out to less than two beers per person each day. It's when they come to Main Street at night; that's when alcohol consumption goes up. Main Street is a good location because of access to hotels and the ability for them to walk back and forth." </p><p>Louis Cayll, general manager of Ormond Beach-based distributor S.R. Perrott, said Biketoberfest is an important week for his company. S.R. Perrott also partners with national breweries during Biketoberfest. </p><p>"This is our biggest week in the second half of the year," Cayll said. "We will sell more beers this week than we will the week of New Year's Eve." </p><p>On Tuesday morning, distribution trucks filled Main Street as employees loaded hundreds of cases of beer into coolers at establishments such as Boot Hill Saloon, Main Street Station and Froggy's Saloon. </p><p>At Boot Hill Saloon, Daytona Beverages employees filled a refrigerated truck with more than 100 cases of beer. Boot Hill manager Alan Yeaton said that keeping drinks cold in outdoor bins costs thousands of dollars in ice. </p><p>Like many of the venues along Main Street, Boot Hill brings in temporary cooling systems during Biketoberfest. </p><p>"They come and fill up the truck with beer at the start of every day," he said. "I've been doing this for a long time and have learned along the way how much beer to order. We used to go through 200 cases a day 10 to 15 years ago. But with the event being more spread out, we go through about 100." </p><p>When it comes to the biggest-selling brands during bike events, distributors and bar owners say Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light and Budweiser are the stars of the show. </p><p>But beer and bikes don't always mix. Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes warned that drinking over the legal limit of .08 can lead to fatal accidents and DUI arrests. FHP, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office and the Daytona Beach Police Department will have an increased presence on the roads and be on the lookout for impaired motorists. </p><p>Last year, Volusia sheriff's deputies made 14 DUI arrests during Biketoberfest. Daytona Beach Police spokesman Sgt. Jimmie Flynt was unable to provide the number of DUI arrests his department made last year. </p><p>"Obviously in this event alcohol is a big factor," Volusia Sheriff's spokesman Brandon Haught wrote in an email. "These are the reasons we are vigilant in DUI enforcement."</p><p>Jensen Beach resident Frank Liotta was one of about a dozen patrons getting an early start on festivities earlier this week. As he sipped a Budweiser at Froggy's Saloon, Liotta estimated he spends about $80 on alcohol each day during Biketoberfest. </p><p>"I try to stay on Main Street when I drink so that I am in one place and I don't have to ride," he said. </p><p><b>BIKETOBERFEST HOTSPOTS:</b> </p><p><b>- </b>Main Street &mdash; Party central with Froggy's Saloon, Main Street Station, Boot Hill Saloon, Dirty Harry's and more. </p><p><b>- </b> Downtown Daytona Beach &mdash; Riverfront Park on Beach Street has a welcome center, deejays, vendors and more. </p><p><b>- </b>DeLand &mdash; The DeLand Bike Rally is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown DeLand and includes beer gardens, live music and merchant specials on E. Indiana Ave. </p><p><b>- </b>Flagler County &mdash; Take a trip north to White Eagle Lounge in Korona along U.S. 1 for live music, a bikini contest on Saturday and drink specials all weekend. Check out Snack Jack's and Finn's in Flagler Beach. </p><p><b>- </b>New Smyrna Beach/Edgewater &mdash; Sopotnick's Cabbage Patch, No Name Saloon and New Smyrna Harley-Davidson have a full schedule of events and entertainment. </p><p><b>- </b>U.S. 1 Ormond Beach – The Iron Horse Saloon and other venues north of Ormond on U.S. 1 bring rock n' roll, lots of food, special events and plenty of stuff to buy. </p><p><b>- </b>Daytona International Speedway &mdash; Marketplace and Demo Rides run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day at 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Motorcycle practice and races will also take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily starting Friday.</p><p><b>- </b>Bethune Boulevard &mdash; The Second Avenue Merchants Association BikeFest features vendors, deejays and food at Daisy Stocking Park, 550 3rd St, Daytona Beach. </p><p><b>- </b>Destination Daytona &mdash; Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona and Daytona Harley-Davidson features hundreds of vendors, motorcycle demonstrations and the Miss G-String International Contest at 1637 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach.</p><p><i>Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Fritze as owner of the Iron Horse. <xi></p>